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Monday, July 30, 2012

Album Review: Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't

In keeping with the spirit of the 2012 Olympic Games, Rick
Ross clearly goes for the gold with his fifth album, God Forgives, I Don’t. Judging
by the tracklist, he’s spared no expense.
The album is bursting at the seams with high profile guest stars and top
notch production. Though not quite the
distinghuised gathering it’s host intended, it nonetheless manages to be a gala
event.

In keeping with the religious (or perhaps sacrilegious)
themes evoked by the album’s title, “Pray for Us” asks God’s forgiveness,
presumably for the sins that will be committed throughout the duration of the LP. The sentiments expressed ring particularly
hollow considering the unabashed indulgence in earthly pleasures that follows.

Rather than infusing the listener with adrenaline, the
lethargic “Pirates” moves at a snail’s pace, proving to be a rather awkward
choice for an album opener. It seems
designed to drain ones energy rather than replenish it. Ross’s vocals draw out like a blade over the
dreary yet dramatic horns from The Mad Lad’s “I Forgot to Be Your Lover.”

Things perk up considerably with “3 Kings,” which features
Dr. Dre and Jay-Z. Producer Jake One
channels Just Blaze when using a rousing sample from “I'm So Grateful (Keep in
Touch)” by Crowns of Glory. Heavenly
choral wailing glides over crashing high hats and piano keys. Jay-Z’s closing verse feels inspired, as It
perfectly encapsulates the vibe of the entire song.

The J.U.S.T.I.C.E League offers musical salvation with “Maybach
Music IV.” One could easily become lost
in the lushness of the composition, which somehow achieves an orchestral
grandeur without overshadowing Ross himself.
It practically begs to be performed onstage with live musical
accompaniment. The song ends with a
brief closing statement by L.A. Reid, after which it beautifully segue ways
into another J.U.S.T.I.C.E League masterpiece entitled “Sixteen.”

“Sixteen” is actually an elegant duet with Andre 300. Soothing violins sway as if conforming to the
whims of a gentle summer breeze. The
drums meld with the listener’s heartbeat, while handclaps infuse tiny jolts of
adrenaline. Lyrically, Andre 3000 outshines
Ross in every conceivable way. His verse
transitions effortlessly from one topic to the next without ever devolving into
muddled abstraction. It’s also refreshingly substantial, leaving
the listener with ample food for thought once the song is over.

Cardiak valiantly attempts to extend the musical highs
achieved by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E League with the haunting “Amsterdam.” A female
vocalist whales a lonely, nasal cry into a hollow cavern while an oozing
bassline flows just beneath. It doesn’t
quite measure up to the songs that immediately precede it, but it’s worthy
offering nonetheless.

At this point the album makes the inevitable though jarring,
shift into Trapstar territory. “Hold Me Back” benefits from an amusing hook,
though the song itself is something of a creative void. All the expected sonic trappings (pun
intended) of the subgenre are prevalent, from the imposing 808’s to the overly
prominent synthesizer keys. The
foreboding “911” is only slightly more complex, combining wailing sirens with
horror movie keys to keep the listener on high alert throughout. Unfortunately, the lack of a compelling hook
brings the song down quite a few notches.

The album transitions into its third and final act with
“Presidential,” which offers a bit of musical respite from the drama that has
come before. Pharrell Williams
facilitates a bit of poolside relaxation with electronically manipulated vocals
over slow rolling drums. The crashing
claps and high hats of “Ice Cold” get the blood pumping, but feel relatively
barren compared to the layered instrumentation found elsewhere on the album. To his credit, Omarion’s vocals do add a bit
of substance.

Drake provides the hook for “Diced Pineapples” which feels
vaguely reminiscent of his “Over My Dead Body.”
Lush, lonely piano keys are allowed to take precedence as the drums are
dialed way down. Wale opens the song
with a bit of sexually suggestive spoken word poetry, and even contributes a
verse. J.U.S.T.I.C.E League returns to
close out the set with “Ten Jesus Pieces.”
The exquisite combination of instruments brings the album in for a
smooth landing.

Rick Ross was perhaps a bit too focused this time out, as God Forgives, I Don’t is consistent to a
fault. The balance of power clearly
favors the kind of slow, smooth tracks that allow Ross to flex his lyrical
muscles a bit more. While that choice is
definitely preferable to the trapstar monotony that he indulged on Rich Forever, it makes the album feel a
bit uneven. This is definitely an album
that could have used a bit more variety.

God Forgives I Don’t
is yet another exceptional album from Rick Ross. It earns its place alongside Deeper Than Rap and Teflon Don, as it exhibits many of the same virtues. That being said, it’s time that even the most
ardent Rick Ross supporters acknowledge the obvious: He might well be incapable
of delivering a genre bending classic. Though
the ultimate prize continues to elude him, his taste in beats remains
exquisite, and his dedication to his craft is evident. Any artist that continuously strives for
musical excellence is worthy of the utmost respect.

About Me

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Scott Wilson, deep thinker and blogger extraordinaire. I'm also a published author and proud father. Last but certainly not least, I'm a single (IE Available), but I'm definitely looking to change that. My life is an ongoing work in progress, and I'm always looking to improve.